Pre-Match: Villarreal v Liverpool Thurs 28th April 20:05 KO

I'd rather rotate Sturridge and Firmino now Origi is injured. Benteke may be on the bench, but I would rather use Benteke and Ojo in the game against Swansea.

Strongest X1 for me Riba, league matches take a back seat on this occasion, win here we should kill it at home, Swansea game we can utilise the kids.


YNWA

This should do the job:

Migs

Clyne
Lucas
Lovren
Moreno

Milner
Allen

Lallana
Firmino
Coutinho

Sturridge

Sub: Ward, Skrtel, Benteke, Ibe, Toure, Smith, Stewart.

That selection scores goals... We shouldn't lose to Villareal with that selection if the defense remains compact.

This should do the job:

Migs

Clyne
Lucas
Lovren
Moreno

Milner
Allen

Lallana
Firmino
Coutinho

Sturridge

Sub: Ward, Skrtel, Benteke, Ibe, Toure, Smith, Stewart.

That selection scores goals... We shouldn't lose to Villareal with that selection if the defense remains compact.

Lucas at the back has got penalty written all over it. I'd play Toure in Sakho''s absence.

Strongest X1 for me Riba, league matches take a back seat on this occasion, win here we should kill it at home, Swansea game we can utilise the kids.


YNWA

Exactly

Benteke in the squad apparently

Well he'd certainly be an unknown quantity if they've only scouted our last few games and you never know, he might actually put in a good game to put himself in the shop window for the summer ;-)

I'm not sure why but I fancy us to get through Villareal, their recent form has been far from impressive in La Liga, they certainly aren't as fearsome as Dortmund.

They are doing quite well in the league. Not a very high scoring team so if we can focus on being solid at the back I back us to score before they do.

Clean sheet & nick a goal or 2.YNWA

Thursday 27th April?

There's one of those in 2017...bit early for that match thread!

Vital to score an away goal or two, the lads have found some form in front of goal lately, need a couple of goals tomorrow night.

Thursday 27th April?

Well spotted! Changed.

Lucas at the back has got penalty written all over it. I'd play Toure in Sakho''s absence.

That's if he can cope with the movements from their forwards

Klopp on Benteke...

"For us, it's perfect that he's back - we only have players here in Villarreal who are ready to play a part in the game, there are no tourists. So, if we need him, we can use him."

Was Klopp referring to TPM trip to Real Madrid?..

WE'VE A FOOTBALL GAME TO PLAY  ...

Thats what we do .

Strongest X1 for me Riba, league matches take a back seat on this occasion, win here we should kill it at home, Swansea game we can utilise the kids.


YNWA

Have to agree
Europa takes priority all the way
Still have a sneaking feeling that Benteke is going to have a big say in how our season pans out.

who told you?

you may of heard of an invention called t'internet

Have to agree
Europa takes priority all the way
Still have a sneaking feeling that Benteke is going to have a big say in how our season pans out.

The way things are panning out, he could. Would be nice to get some return on the 32.5mill. Better late than never Personally don't care who scores our goals.
CL matches done now. We're next. Gettin nervous, in a good way

https://twitter.com/JamesPearceEcho/status/725364582898892800

Honestly I think injuries might catch up to us with this one. I'm hoping I'm wrong of course but it's not just one area of the team it's all 3 and then Mignolet in goal.

Lovren/Toure - I mean I love Kolo, sometimes he puts in amazing shifts but I think he plays better on the right at the back and when compared to the partnership that Dejan and Sakho had been developing it's hard to believe they'll be as good.

Midfield without Emre - I know there's a section of fans that don't rate Emre too highly but he was really starting to become quite a force. His tackling has been missed but so has that physical presence. A Lucas/Allen midfield as is likely just doesn't inspire enough confidence.

Up front we're not only missing Origi who has been on fire recently but we've also got Firmino who is a major worry. He has come back from his injury seemingly half paced. I'm hoping he's back to something like his best tomorrow because it's likely we'll need him to be. It's almost certain that he'll start given the nature of the game and what he brings in terms of defending from the front so with that in mind I would personally set up like this:

                         Migs
 Clyne         Lovren   Toure     Moreno
                  Lucas    Allen
        Milner        Firmino     Coutinho
                       Sturridge

Milner would actually be the key to it as I'd be expecting him to play much more narrow than in a traditional 4231 and essentially make a 4321 in defensive shape. Moreno is going to get out of position, this much is obvious, we need to have a midfielder free to cover and in this sense it would be Allen which would then give us the 2 in the centre of midfield to hopefully give some strength.

Again a strong away performance with any type of score draw I'd snatch your hand off right now. Goals will be even more at a premium in this game as they certainly don't concede many; especially at home.

Really tough game, hoping we can manage it but I just have that nagging feeling that injuries might have caught up with us, hope I'm wrong.

Absolutely buzzing.

Hope we turn up and turn the screw straight away.

Have a feeling they might try to suck the life out the game early on and then pounce on a mistake

Now is not a time to look at our issues with injuries or out of form players. Every single player picked on Thursday will rise to the occasion.

In reality Villarreal would be a mid table team in the PL, nothing to fear....as long as Skrtel is not picked   

If Benteke starts, I have no confidence in  him working the channels, pressing intensely or attacking the space, however, I do not mind all this IF he holds the ball up, relieve some pressure and to also bring our players into play, that is all!

All season long I've read about mitigation excuses to injuries ad nauseam as a brace for a justifiable loss in-case it turns out that way.
 
Yes, we have a couple of injuries to worry about, tell me a side that doesn't! But let's be honest, the players we are missing are replaceable to the extent they're not someone like Luis Suarez.

We still have Sturridge, Coutinho, Lallana, Milner, Firmino Allen, Lucas, Benteke even, Skertel, Kolo, Moreno, Clyne and Lovren as a group of core players, and under Klopp a manager who seems to be able to squeeze every drop of juice out of these players on the right occasion. Baring we don't throw away another 2 goal lead, the side that Klopp puts out should be able to get a respectable result against the yellow submarines.

Welcome to the real world of football ladies and gentlemen where the demand for Cups and going on extended runs in competitions puts strain on all types of squads.

We wanted it, we got it.

"Believe"

If Benteke starts, I have no confidence in  him working the channels, pressing intensely or attacking the space, however, I do not mind all this IF he holds the ball up, relieve some pressure and to also bring our players into play, that is all!

I'd be surprised if he started. I know Daniel Sturridge is no grafter but at least he has the ability to sprint. It'll be Sturridge or Firmino. Surely.